Ebay Hats: Victories, Defeats, Gripes & Items of Interest

[Mobile Vulgus]

I know, I just wanted everyone to know who my favorite is. But for American singers, I often think that the most recent one tops the list in the estimation of the people currently alive and discussing, which doesn't really throw light on which one might be best or most influential. So I would expect many more votes for Elvis than Sinatra, more for Sinatra than Crosby, and more for Crosby than Jolson. I think Jolson or Sinatra in the end were more influential, but that's just a pedestrian opinion. Except for Bobby Sherman. Now, there was a singer! And unforgettable? In the same class as Wayne Newton. And Barry Manilow.

I think Jolson loses out because of his spectacular fall from grace due to the whole blackface thing. Billy Holliday was influential but not to the greater public compared to Elvis. Elivs was influential to musicians, movies, pop culture as well as foreign sources. Further, I think that Elvis has longer term recognition factor. After all, who today knows who Al Jolson was? And he only died about fifty years ago.

Anyway, I still think the Beatles were bigger than all of them.

 

[bolthead]

OK. I put in a bid. We'll see if it still stands 6 days from now.

dont count on it.....

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

dont count on it.....

I KNEW he should never have advertised that he was trying to get that hat!

 

[jimmy the lid]

Posting live auctions is a bad idea. Posting live auctions for a hat that you yourself are interested in....Well....:eusa_doh:

 

[monbla256]

[QUOTE

Anyway, I still think the Beatles were bigger than all of them.[/QUOTE]

I think you hit the nail on the head with the Beatles. Their songs and all that they did probably have had more influence than most of us think. Spot on

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

Posting live auctions is a bad idea. Posting live auctions for a hat that you yourself are interested in....Well....:eusa_doh:

That would be my take on it.

 

[Yeps]

My question is, who was the greatest and most influential American singer of the 20th Century? Would it be Jolson, Crosby, Sinatra, Elvis, or Tiny Tim?

Tiny Tim for sure. Well....mayby Lady Ga Ga.

Ah, but Ms. Germanotta is not a singer of the 20th century. She belongs to the 21st.

 

[Mobile Vulgus]

Ah, but Ms. Germanotta is not a singer of the 20th century. She belongs to the 21st.

Oh, she belongs on a list alright!

 

[Chinaski]

Here's a pair to draw to...

Elvis was the king, but it would be hard to vote against the Beatles in terms of influence.

Regarding the Sinatra hat, it would be quite interesting to see the seller's letter of "autenticity."

 

[fmw]

dont count on it.....

If someone wins it from me, the price will be a stinger and they can have it. I'm not even sure I want it at the price I bid. We'll see how high it goes.

 

[fmw]

Regarding the Sinatra hat, it would be quite interesting to see the seller's letter of "autenticity."

It has to be a joke. Or an attempted scam. If he sells it, it will be to a scammer who will rip him off.

 

[fmw]

That would be my take on it.

I was just trying to get the experts to tell me whether or not a hat would have the magical mid century felt, feel and look. If someone is truly setttled on that hat, let me know and I'll withdraw my bid. I can keep looking. I'm not in any hurry.

 

[gtdean48]

I was just trying to get the experts to tell me whether or not a hat would have the magical mid century felt, feel and look. If someone is truly setttled on that hat, let me know and I'll withdraw my bid. I can keep looking. I'm not in any hurry.

No expert is going to tell you anything based on 2 ebay photos & description. IF that hat is as described & we all know that they aren't always, it should be what you are looking for. Others thinking it is will set the price.

 

[facade]

I was just trying to get the experts to tell me whether or not a hat would have the magical mid century felt, feel and look. If someone is truly setttled on that hat, let me know and I'll withdraw my bid. I can keep looking. I'm not in any hurry.

One must remember they are dealing with connoisseurs & collectors here. Such folk always want the very best even when there may not be all that much difference between the best and the very good. High end older felt hats are worlds above today's mainstream hats. But the difference between a high end vintage and a modern custom isn't so great. If we accept that the felters were more skilled and that the carroting produced better felt, then the vintage felt will be denser and lighter then an equal quality modern hat. Will this be enough to be magical? I don't think so. Definitely worth it to the collector but probably a disappointment to someone who was looking to be wowed by the difference.

 

[danofarlington]

One must remember they are dealing with connoisseurs & collectors here. Such folk always want the very best even when there may not be all that much difference between the best and the very good. High end older felt hats are worlds above today's mainstream hats. But the difference between a high end vintage and a modern custom isn't so great. If we accept that the felters were more skilled and that the carroting produced better felt, then the vintage felt will be denser and lighter then an equal quality modern hat. Will this be enough to be magical? I don't think so. Definitely worth it to the collector but probably a disappointment to someone who was looking to be wowed by the difference.

I also think that quality of felt is not the whole story in a hat. Unless we're talking about wool, which we're not, most felts are good enough for me. What I am after is a particular hat style, might be vintage, might be new stock. The style is what I am buying and showing as a principal item of clothing. So unless a hat is totally junked out somehow, or looks dowdy, I'm not particular about the felt. Sure I like nice felt--vintage rabbit, or any beaver. But from five feet away not so many are going to notice. That's why I refuse to get wrapped up in discussions about "the quality of the felt." Using that logic, you could spend money for a dopey-looking hat, for the sake of the felt, which most people would not do. So I just buy the hat for style.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

I think I just bought it.

Great,would love to get one in my size some day. Can't to see your pictures of it I am sure it will look great.

 

[fmw]

If it is what it is and I don't like it, then I can always put it back on the market. Thanks for the feedback. I think it is good feedback from everyone. So far I have liked my modern hats and, in fact, preferred them to the vintage ones I've had. Hopefully this one, if I get it, will be better than the ones I've had. We shall see. Now back to work.

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

One of the images is the letter thou the image is bad just like the other images.

 

[alanfgag]

If it is what it is and I don't like it, then I can always put it back on the market. Thanks for the feedback. I think it is good feedback from everyone. So far I have liked my modern hats and, in fact, preferred them to the vintage ones I've had. Hopefully this one, if I get it, will be better than the ones I've had. We shall see. Now back to work.

The Borsalino Alessandria has similar proportions to an Open Road but has a different feel, both to the felt and to the fit. I would describe it as "softer." Mine is a later vintage than this one I - seventies, probably. This one appears to be well watched and headed up there pricewise. They do appear fairly often - rarely selling (in very good condition) under $160 and often over $200. You might consider asking the seller for better photos of the inside and to confirm that the sweatband stitching is intact and tight... I've found this to be a problem area on non-reeded Borsos. They are wonderful hats... good luck with the auction!

 

[warbird]

I think most of the people on the board who like old hats like them for the styles, the selection of colors and the more interesting ribbons used at the time. None of the major manufacturers have really gotten the retro styles down pat when they have brought a name back from the past. And for the most part styles today are simply different today, lower more tapered crowns. These fashions come and go. Westerns as well. Look at a cowboy hat from the 70's with the really tall crowns. Today they are much lower and the vast majority of them some version of cattlemen's crease. Even with price increases on vintage hats, they often are still less expensive than a new custom.

As for the felt this has been discussed in great length by Art and Mike Moore and others. The felt made today is just as good, sometimes better than what was made then. Most vintage hats we buy are not all beaver, some are. Art and MIke and others can made a wonderfully soft handed hat, but it still does not feel the same as the vintage hats feel. It is pretty dang close. The reason for the difference is simple. Art calls it felt going dead. Age, weather and temp softens and makes felt more luxuriant. In 40 or 50 years the quality hats made today will feel as good or better than those hats. The hats most here covet didn't feel the same when they were made either than they do today..

The man who runs Winchester Hat facility did an experiment where he took blanks and left them outside for a year. They went through snow, rain, heat , cold and sun. At the end of the year he brought them in, cleaned them up and they were amazingly soft and had a wonderful hand. So if you want your newer hats to be like a vintage, take out the sweat, off the ribbon and hang them outside for a year. Speed up the aging process.

I have seen this process in action myself from a new hat to a buttery soft hat. My Fed is just one example of a hat that comes somewhat stiff and maybe to some somewhat rough feeling. Mine has been through dessert sun, heat and sandstorms, blizzards and monsoons. It is now wonderfully soft. I hastened the process with what I have put it through. And that is a hat made and finished more for the elements and less for dress softness and luxuriant sheen. It is no different than leather. Age breaks it in, softens it up and makes it a thing of beauty.